Inverness heroin addict had someone else’s methadone
Police saw a man staggering in a street near his home and decided to stop him and search him for drugs.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 47 year old Mark Lennan of Anderson Street, Inverness had 70ml of methadone illegally in his possession without a prescription.
It is a substitute for heroin which is prescribed to drug users and is gradually reduced as the addict comes off the narcotic.
He admitted the charge which was committed on July 5, 2023.
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But defence solicitor advocate Clare Russell gave an explanation to Sheriff Gary Aitken.
She said: "He has been on a methadone prescription since he was 18 years old.
“He was adamant that he had a prescription for the drug.
"But it turns out it was cancelled a few days before this incident and then restarted a few days afterwards.
“He obtained the methadone from someone he shouldn't because he didn't want to go back on heroin.
"He had 70ml which was his dose at the time. He is now on 40ml."
Lennan was fined £130.
